MainThe Official Magazine of RAF HaltonpointSummer 2016 ROYAL DOUBLE FOR RAF HALTON Mainpoint Summer 2016 1 STATION SNIPPETS | COMMUNITY | ROYAL VISIT “An ancient coaching inn dating back to 1578 set in the picturesque village of Wendover, Buckinghamshire. A traditional English pub and restaurant offering authentic Thai cuisine. Whether joining us for food, simply a drink or to pick up a take away you will always receive a warm welcome from our experienced staff and our loyal regulars. We have an extensive Thai menu offering a variety of Stir fries, curries and house specials and are very proud of the fact that all dishes are prepared from authentic ingredients in house here at the George and Dragon by our experienced chef Tu. The George and Dragon offers excellent food, a wide range of drinks and most importantly good value for money. The Raj A JEWEL THAT OUTSHINES ALL OTHER RESTAURANTS! An award winning restaurant, for its outstanding achievement and contribution to the pursuit of excellent food and service. The appreciation of spices and their various combinations is an acquired art and can only be achieved after many years of studied blending, cooking and tasting. The subtle tastes and flavours of “The Raj” are quite varied from many other restaurants. Amongst the dishes chosen from this menu, you will find enjoyable explosion of your taste buds. Excellent take away and delivery service Special set menu - from £14.95 per head (includes papadoms, chutneys, starter, main dish, side dish, rice & bread) 23 Aylesbury Road, Wendover, Bucks HP22 6JG 01296 622567 / 696369 Mobile: 07960 862265 (24 hours) 12:00 - 2:30 & 5:30 - 11:00 (Monday - Thursday) 12:00 - 2:30 & 5:30 - 11:30 (Friday & Saturday) (Out of hours, ring mobile) © shutterstock.com / user: Joe Gough MainThe Official Magazine of RAF HaltonpointSummer 2016 Station Commander’s ForewordForeword Group Captain A S Burns MSc MA BSc RAF One team, training people for Defence ROYAL DOUBLE FOR RAF HALTON Mainpoint Summer 2016 1 STATION SNIPPETS | COMMUNITY | ROYAL VISIT Editorial Team Editor FS Gaz Smith IMLC DS Airmen’s Command Squadron Tel: 01296 656156 Email: [email protected] Deputy Editors Cpl Lucky Smart Regional Medical Centre Tel: 01296 656023 Email: DPHCC-HAL- [email protected] Cpl Glen Walcuch SMTW Tel:01296 656606 Email: [email protected] Distribution Courtesy of the Central Registry and Fire Section Photography Support Kate Rutherford, Chris Yarrow & Luka Waycott. Tel: 01296 656117 Publishing Team Published Lance Publishing Limited, 1st Floor, Tailby House, Bath Road, Kettering, Northants, NN16 8NL Tel: 01536 512624 Email: [email protected] Visit: www.lancepublishing.co.uk Advertising Tammie Ridler Tel: 01536 526667 Email: [email protected] Designed Lance Publishing Ltd Tel: 01536 521126 Email: dharmesh@lancepublishing. co.uk Printed Lance Print Ltd, 29/30 Stapledon Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6TD Tel: 01733 390564 Email: [email protected] Welcome to the sums up all that makes Halton an successes and output delivered Visit: www.lanceprint.co.uk Summer edition of amazing camp and one that I have in that time. It may not be terribly been delighted and humbled to British to embrace such pride in Disclaimer: Mainpoint. Command for the last 2 years. I success, but nonetheless TY all - it This publication is copyright Lance Publishing sadly depart in the Summer and would not have happened without Limited and may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without prior written ummer is here and with while I really would rather stay I all of you working together as a permission of Lance Publishing Limited. While it another Mainpoint. This leave knowing that RAF Halton’s Whole Force team. So as a people every care has been taken during the preparation edition brings a number of reputation both within the RAF and orientated, output focussed of this magazine, Lance Publishing Limited cannot S stories together that highlight the in the wider community remains individual I ask that you all have be held responsible for accuracy of the information herein or for any consequence arising from it. Views achievements of our people – be it strong. The Station has had to face a good Summer, spend time Expressed in this publication are not necessarily in their primary activities, secondary a number of challenges in the last with loved ones and be ready to those of the Royal Air Force or the Ministry of duties, sporting achievements, or 2 years but I would ask everyone come back refreshed and ready to Defence. All images © Crown Copyright unless otherwise stated. charitable endeavours. In sum, it reading to reflect back upon the continue to deliver amazingly. 4 Mainpoint Summer 2016 Contents Summer 2016 STATION SNIPPETS COMMUNITY & CHARITY SPORTS 6 Royal visitor to RAF Halton 17 SATT’s support “Tring railway and 28 RAF launches branded sportswear museum.” to all regular and reservist phase 7 Lord Trenchard becomes patron of one trainees Halton Heritage 16 Community plant trees together 29 RAF Halton Corporal assists in 8 Royal Double for RAF Halton 18 Station clean up International Paralympic World Cup Finals. 9 CAS visits RAF Halton 19 RAF Halton support Search Dogs Buckinghamshire. 12 Recruit training staff raise money for the Pink Ribbon Foundation 19 RAF Sgt and search dog find missing man 13 AOTYA 24 VASR 16 RAF Halton turning the heat up at the Malta Marathon 25 Emily joins the Conservation Team at RAF Halton Mainpoint Summer 2016 5 Station snippets ROYAL VISITOR TO RAF HALTON er Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall, the H Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Halton visited the Station on 28 April 2016. Accompanied by Group Captain Adrian Burns, Station Commander, she visited the Station’s Trinity Community Centre where she met the welfare staff and joined the children enjoying the many activities in the Centre. The Duchess also met a cross- section of Station personnel at a reception in Halton House, Officers’ Mess. The visit concluded with a fly-past by an aircraft from 230 Squadron, RAF Benson. Wing Commander Niki Stacey said: “It was a privilege to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cornwall to RAF Halton. The visit offered our Welfare team the opportunity to show the wide range of support services and facilities available to our military personnel and their families, and for our Honorary Air Commodore to meet with many of our families, as well as personnel from across the Whole Force.” 6 Mainpoint Summer 2016 Station snippets LORD TRENCHARD BECOMES PATRON OF HALTON HERITAGE AF Halton is not only synonomous centre within a visit organised by Gp Capt with training, which encompasses RAF (Retd) ‘Min’ Larkin, one of many retired local Rrecruit training, specialist training, Phase volunteers who devote so much of their time 2 training as well as command management and efforts in preserving the myriad of sites, and leadership training; it is also the Home memorials and museum activities on and for Sport for many RAF sports. As well as this, around the Buckinghamshire base. A plaque another aspect of RAF Halton is the heritage it commemorating the event was presented holds from the earliest days of aviation. In 1913, to Lord Trenchard by OIC Halton Heritage, a the previous owners, the Rothchilds, invited post which sits with OC Ops and Plans Wg, Kitchener’s Army and the pre-RAF aviators to currently Wg Cdr Ray Morley MBE RAF. train there.The RAF has been training there since its inception in 1918 and much of its On the day, Lord Trenchard conveyed his early development was determined by the thanks for what he described as ‘a wonderful vision of Viscount, Lord Trenchard, colloquially day’ as he was ‘most honoured to be the known as the ‘father of the RAF’ who set up Patron of Halton Heritage’. He stated in a the RAF Aircraft Apprentices Training School speech how proud he was and spoke of in 1920. The Halton heritage and its huge the strong feelings he had for Halton due amount of artefacts which colour its long and to the special place it had with his family illustrious history are now preserved by no less much of which was reflected in the various than 4 committees: the Heritage Committee memorabilia which he still had from that which is accompanied by the committees of which his grandmother had kept. He paid the Trenchard Museum, Halton House and the tribute to the various ex-serving RAF personnel WW1 Trenches Committees. whose hard work and impressive knowledge made Halton Heritage what is was today. How fitting then that RAF Halton recently sought a new Patron to its wide and varied OIC Heritage, Wg Cdr Morley said: “We are heritage estate in the form of the 3rd delighted, there can be no more appropriate Viscount, Lord Hugh Trenchard, Honorary Air and fitting patron for Halton Heritage than Commodore and the grandson of the father of Lord Trenchard.” he added: “We look forward the RAF, no less. The occasion of him accepting to inviting Lord Trenchard back again as it this accolade took place on Monday 09 May takes so long to see and appreciate all of 16 at RAF Halton’s Groves Flight Heritage Halton’s Heritage. Mainpoint Summer 2016 7 Station snippets ROYAL DOUBLE FOR RAF HALTON AF Halton personnel were children are lining the streets and Cpl ‘Barney’ Barnett from Drill and rehearsals were on Royal duty again recently thoroughly enjoying themselves.” Ceremonial at Recruit Training minimal, and I only R when Her Majesty the Queen Squadron, said: “I had the honour walked the ground visited Berkhamsted in honour of Servicemen Awaiting Trade Training and privilege of SATT’s to parade with the troops on the her 90th birthday celebrations.